Passport and Visa
You will need a valid passport and student visa to enter the United States. Once accepted to the program and your file has been processed by admissions, you will receive an I-20 Form which is required to apply for your visa.
Travel Plans
After your acceptance, you will receive information about housing, orientation, courses, etc., so that you may plan accordingly.
Arriving in Ithaca
The Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport is located ten-minutes from Cornell. Airlines that service Ithaca are: Delta, US Airways, and United. Once in Ithaca, you may take a taxi from the airport. You may request a taxi at the desk located in the baggage claim area. Reservations are not normally required for ground transportation but are recommended during peak periods of student travel.
Transportation may be reserved ahead of time with one of the following:
University Taxi: (607) 277-7777
Cayuga Taxi: (607) 277-TAXI (8294)
Yellow Cab Co: (607) 277-CABS (2227) Or Toll Free: 1-888-321-1149
Arriving in Syracuse
The Syracuse airport is the closest major airport (about one hour from Ithaca). There is no scheduled shuttle service to Cornell University so it can be expensive to travel from Syracuse to Ithaca. Century Taxi and Transportation, (315) 455-5151, operates a shuttle service at peak student travel times. Ithaca Airline Limo (by reservation), (607) 273-3030, makes frequent but unscheduled trips to the Airport. Right Limousine & Sedans (by reservation), (800) 647-5466 or service@rightlimo.com, offers daily service from the Airport to Cornell University.
Arriving in New York City
You may get a connecting flight from NYC to the Ithaca or Syracuse airport. Or, you may fly into NYC and take a bus to Ithaca. The bus trip takes approximately 5 hours. Greyhound Bus Lines, (607) 272-7930 and Shortline Bus Lines, (607) 277-8800 leave from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City. Different routes are offered—some are faster than others. Check schedules before you board your bus! The bus makes several stops and usually stops in Collegetown and the Cornell campus, but you should ask the bus driver about these stops before departure. Taxis at the bus station can take you to your destination on campus.
The Campus-to-Campus Express Coach, offers service between Cornell’s Ithaca and New York City’s campuses. Schedules are limited. Buses are equipped with reclining seats, work tables, wireless and wired Internet service, electric outlets at every seat, and satellite radio service. For more information or to book a trip, go to www.c2cbus.com.
Banking
There are several banks close to or on the Cornell campus. The easiest way to handle money is to open an account in Ithaca and have money transferred or directly deposited. It is also useful to arrive with U.S. currency for buses, phone calls, taxis, etc. There are three banks on campus: CFCU (607) 255-5111; M&T Bank (607) 257-5121; and Tompkins Trust Company (607) 257-5121. More information can be found at www.bursar.cornell.edu/Local_Banking_Services.cfm.